This summer, head off on a vacation under Rs 10,000. Here's how...

It's raining holidays. Next week, as another long weekend beckons, the guide decided to offer a bunch of options for you to squeeze in a budget-friendly, beach-bumming escape. Take your pick

Tarkarli From Mumbai 540.1 km

Overview: Situated 6 km south of Malvan, Tarkarli is a coastal town in Sindhudurg district, and is most famous for its long, narrow stretches the of beach. It makes for the ideal getaway to kick back and soak up the sun. Sighting dolphins is an attraction here.

Illustration/Amit Bandre

Don’t miss: The Sindhudurg Fort (which is one of Maharashtra’s most famous naval forts), watersports, Sangam (the point where the Karli river drains into the Arabian Sea) and the Tsunami Island (30 minutes from Tarkarli)

Checklist>> Keep the beach clean>> Don’t venture out alone after sunset>> Check safety precautions thoroughly during water sports>> Preferably, book accommodation in advance

GoaFrom Mumbai 609.3 km

Overview:This small state on India’s west coast is popular among tourists with diverse interests, since it offers an eclectic mix, owing to a varied landscape. It’s dotted with forested Western Ghats, forts, rivers and of course beaches. Spread over approximately 3,700 sq km, Goa attracts a steady flow of visitors throughout the year.

Don’t miss: Saturday night market at Arpora, water sports at Baga and Candolim, churches in South Goa, the shacks, and seafood.

Overview: The town of Harihareshwar, situated in Raigad district, is surrounded by four hills — Harihareshwar, Harshinachal, Bramhadri and Pushpadri — and is known for its picturesque beach and the temple of Harihareshwar. It, along with Shrivardhan and Diveagar Beach, forms a popular weekend beach destination.Don’t miss: The beach with its clean sand and soothing breeze, Ganesh Gully (a culvert of about three feet wide, in between two rocky mountains), turtle hatching at Velas (30 minutes via ferry) and Bankot Fort.

Stay:MTDC Resort, Harihareshwar.Cost:Rs 900 to Rs 1,300 per night (depending on when you book)Call:02147226036Email:reservation@maharashtratourism.gov.in